[JustAnotherFan]

At the ceremony following the 500 Free (won by Lia Thomas), the second place finisher (Emma Weyant) moved to the third place podium away from Thomas and was joined by Stanford's Brooke Forde, who had finished fourth (but presumably was viewed as the legitimate third place finisher who should be on the podium).

Was this a signal of protest or was it just three young women who knew each other coming together for a photo? Yes, Brooke moved to the 3rd place platform for the photo, but Emma didn't move to her left to stand on the 1st place platform, and the third place swimmer didn't move at all. I seriously doubt that Brooke, of all people, based on her prior remarks, was trying to make a statement.

Well, Lia Thomas was standing on the first place platform so I doubt that Emma Weyant would move there (to push her off?) It's hard to determine the meaning of the post-race photo but it's awkward looking and unusual. Especially given the boos that Thomas received it seems like a conscious choice to move away from her to take a photo without her, but that's just my interpretation.

I get that interpretation. I don't agree with it though. I think the photographer was shrewd in cutting off the rest of the placers (in the article I saw with that picture). FYI, I don't think that Brooke made a conscious choice to move away from the 5th place girl for the photo any more than she made a conscious choice to move toward Lia.

[JustAnotherFan]

At the ceremony following the 500 Free (won by Lia Thomas), the second place finisher (Emma Weyant) moved to the third place podium away from Thomas and was joined by Stanford's Brooke Forde, who had finished fourth (but presumably was viewed as the legitimate third place finisher who should be on the podium).

Was this a signal of protest or was it just three young women who knew each other coming together for a photo? Yes, Brooke moved to the 3rd place platform for the photo, but Emma didn't move to her left to stand on the 1st place platform, and the third place swimmer didn't move at all. I seriously doubt that Brooke, of all people, based on her prior remarks, was trying to make a statement.

Well, Lia Thomas was standing on the first place platform so I doubt that Emma Weyant would move there (to push her off?) It's hard to determine the meaning of the post-race photo but it's awkward looking and unusual. Especially given the boos that Thomas received it seems like a conscious choice to move away from her to take a photo without her, but that's just my interpretation.

I get that interpretation. I don't agree with it though. I think the photographer was shrewd in cutting off the rest of the placers (in the article I saw with that picture). FYI, I don't think that Brooke made a conscious choice to move away from the 5th place girl for the photo any more than she made a conscious choice to move toward Lia.